Dario Essugo celebrates with Reggie Walsh and Dastan Satpayev
Chelsea are looking to improve under Xabi Alonso
Following a disappointing 2025/26 campaign, Chelsea head into the new season with a fresh sense of optimism under new head coach Xabi Alonso. With no European commitments cluttering their schedule, the Blues are primed to channel all their focus into the domestic front and mount a serious surge back into the Premier League's top positions.
Bookmakers bet365 place Chelsea as third-favourites for the Premier League crown at 8/1, while offering odds of 7/2 to finish in the top 2. For those eyeing European qualification, Chelsea are backed heavily at 4/7 to secure a top-five finish.
In the market for Chelsea's top team goalscorer, Joao Pedro leads the betting at 11/10 with Cole Palmer at 11/8 and new signing Morgan Rogers at 6/1.
The view from our Chelsea reporter, Bobby Vincent
It's an exciting season ahead for the Blues. Xabi Alonso's arrival has brought a new lease of life to Stamford Bridge after a disappointing 2025/26 campaign. The fact they have no European football to contend with means they should have an advantage on some of their rivals when it comes to competing in the Premier League.
Chelsea supporters seem excited with the new signings, also. Morgan Rogers was an unexpected addition, but a welcome one. The experience of Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson is something Blues supporters have been demanding for years.
I expect a lot from Chelsea for the upcoming season - at the risk of getting too carried away. Third-place seems like a popular prediction for Chelsea and that is where my money would go. And if that is the case, that would be an amazing debut season for Alonso.
It would be an added bonus if they could win one of the two domestic cups as well. Exciting times.
First 5 Fixtures
Fulham (A) — Mon, 24 Aug
Brighton & Hove Albion (H) — Sun, 30 Aug
Arsenal (A) — Sun, 6 Sep
Hull City (H) — Sat, 12 Sep
Brentford (A) — Fri, 18 Sep
Transfers in
Morgan Rogers - Aston Villa
Maxence Lacroix - Crystal Palace
Marco Palestra - Atalanta
Geovany Quenda - Sporting CP
Valentín Barco - Strasbourg
Pep Chavarría - Rayo Vallecano
Danny Welbeck - Brighton & Hove Albion
Jordan Henderson - Brentford
Transfers out
Andrey Santos - Manchester United
Marc Cucurella - Real Madrid
Trevoh Chalobah - Como
Tyrique George - Everton
Alejandro Garnacho - Aston Villa (Loan)
Filip Jørgensen - Strasbourg (Loan)
Chelsea Season Odds with bet365
Premier League Winners 8/1
To Finish in Top 2 7/2
To Finish in Top 5 4/7
FA Cup Winners 9/1
EFL (Carabao) Cup Winners 8/1
Top Team Goalscorer
Joao Pedro (11/10)
Cole Palmer (11/8)
Morgan Rogers (6/1)
All information is correct as of the date of publication.
See Here for the Latest Premier League 2026/27 Outrights and Odds at bet365
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